Summer plans

I have so many cool things planned for this summer. I will be starting July off with a nine-day backpacking trek in the Stein Valley, where I'll be hiking with 14 other teens and two chaperons. I'm quite excited about it since we have a great group of people going. The trail also has some interesting history with the Aboriginal people.

Following this hiking trip, I will be heading off to Whistler to see my cousins who are vacationing there for a week. We've planned lots of mountain biking, hiking, and swimming, so it should be a lot of fun. My cousins and I usually spend the end of July at Piers Island, where my Oma owns a cabin, but this year will unfortunately be the first year that we won't have this annual Island family reunion, because...

...I am going to Piura, Peru! Yes, that's PERU! I know, I still can't quite comprehend it... One of the things on my life bucketlist is to see South America, and when my dad found out about a FSSP mission that is going there, my opportunity arose. I will be there for ten days and doing work such as distributing food and water to the poor, working at the local parish's school, orphanage and clinic, and helping to build houses and other facilities. I can't wait to get to know the people and culture there, and from what I've heard, Peru is a really neat place.

Many people have asked me if I'm going to Machu Picchu, and unfortunately, I'm not... it's not exactly near where I'm going, and plus it wouldn't be safe for a white girl to travel in Peru alone. Maybe someday I will go back to see that fascinating place in the Peruvian mountains, but it's not for this year.

After Peru, my parents and I are heading off to the Rocky Mountains to go camping and hiking. My family has gone to the Rockies almost every summer for quite a few years now, and we just can't get enough of its glorious mountains, meadows, and lakes. They honestly seem to get more beautiful every year... I can't wait to go back again.

Finally, after all of these adventures, I will have one or two relaxing weeks at home before the school year starts up again. These weeks will probably be spent picking the produce of our yard, with all of its blackberries, apples, beans and various other fruits and vegetables, and during the really hot days we'll most likely hang out at the lake with friends.